Demonstrator display



Aug. 25, 1942. E PLONER AL 2,294,204

DEMONSTRATOR DISPLAY Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 SheetsSheet 1 DEMONSTRATOR DISPLAY Filed Nov. 1, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Patented Aug. 25, 1942 DEMONSTRATOR DISPLAY Edward K. lilon'er, Glencoe, and John .t. Sig= man, Chicago,

111., assignors to Chicago Flexihle Shaft Company, Chicago, hi a corpora tion of Illinois Application November 1, 19%, Serial No. 363,856

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in equipment to be used in conjunction with electric shavers, sometimes known as dry shavers.

The operator of an electric shaver is often beset with numerous diiliculties and inconveniences which our invention seeks to avoid. Although conventional bathroom facilities are highly desirable for shaving with an ordinary razor but are not required for an electric shaver, a frequent practice prior to our invention has been for the user to employ the bathroom for shaving. This practice deprives others of the use of the bathroom at an hour when, very often, several people wish to make their morning toilet. It is also objectionable because frequently the poor location of mirror and light tends to obstruct the operators vision or casts shadows on the whiskered portion of his face. Also, where one wishes to use a mirror on a piece of furniture, such as a dresser, he experiences difliculty because they relative location of the mirror and outlet frequently is such that he cannot use the mirror conveniently, if at all, and still have thecord to his shaver plugged into the outlet. And,-aiter completing his shave, the user is left to the alternatives of gathering up the cord and placing it and the shaver away in a box or drawer, or oi leaving the shaver exposed to view. Either of these alternatives is objectionable since it is inconvenient to wind and rewind the cord, while it the cord is not put away the shaving quarters appear disorderly.

An object oi our invention, is therefore, to provide a unitary device for increasing the convenience oi the user of an electric shaver by providing an apparatus for neatly receiving an electric shaver when not in use, for concealing the attached cord when not in use and having means for withdrawing and retracting it, and having an improved combinationoi mirror and illuminating means for shaving.

Furthermore, in the demonstration 01! electric shavers on retail counters, it is especially desirable that improved shaving conditions be provided for the prospective customer in order to favorably impress him with the merits of the particular shaver being demonstrated- 1! there are several models oi a single make, the particular line of goods may be more effectively displayed, especially in a limited space, by arrang n the shavers in a group. It is, therefore, another object oi our invention to provide an improved apparatus, for demonstrating one or a plurality of hate the users face when operating the shaver before a mirror and means through which individual cords attached to the shavers may be withdrawn from or retracted into the cabinet when a particular shaver is moved to or returned from an operating position,

Furthermore, if as heretofore, artificial illuminating means is placed near the plane of the mirror, such as on either side or beneath or behind it, the light interferes with the vision of the user since a portion of it strikes the eyes directly, causing a mild blinding that one counteracts by squinting and confining his eye movement within a range least affected by the light rays. In so avoiding the light, one is not free to observe closely all the whiskered portions oi his face, with the result that his shave is not entirely satisfactory. Certain types of lighting arrangements also fail to illuminate portions of the face beneath the chin. It is, therefore, another object of our invention to provide a device for use in connection with electric shavers in which electrical illuminating means is spaced forwardly from an upright mirror and in such'lower relation thereto that the light rays strike the users face from beneath as he uses the mirror, and are reflectedto the mirror,

whereby the whi'skered portions of his face, in-

cluding the portions beneath his chin, will be well illuminated without the direct rays from the source striking the eyes.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a compact, neatly appearing, and portable accessory for electric shavers through which the user is provided with adequate light and mirror means for shaving and in which there are means for withdrawing the shaver cord, otherwise constructure for storing the cord of an electric electric shavers, consisting 01! an attractive cabinet having individualreception means for the shavers a taini means adapted to illumishaver.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a top elevation of our invention showing the different shaver models seated in their respective recesses; I

Fig. 2 is a top elevation of the base plate and apparatus mounted thereon, with the cover portion removed;

Fig.3 is a wiring diagram of the shaver and electrical illuminating circuits;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longtudinal section on the line 4-4 of P18. 1; r

Fig. is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the cover portion being removed, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end view of the reel support bracket.

Referring to the figures, a cover 6 and a base plate I comprise the cabinet portion of our invention. The cover 6 is in this instance of a one-piece, molded plastic construction. A top wall 8 of the cover 6 is of a generally rounded configuration, the curvature beginning at its rear portion and rounding downwardly to merge into the plane of the base i, the side walls and rear wall 9 being substantially vertical. The rounded corners of the cover 6 and the curvature of the top wall 8 give a generally streamlined appearance to the cabinet. Suction cups III are secured to the corners of the base I to prevent sliding of the cabinet when placed upon a fiat surface.

-Opposed pairs of vertical bosses II and I2 are located on the inner sides of the side walls of the cover 6 being integral therewith. The bosses at their lower end portions contain internally threaded metal inserts into which screws l3 are entered for securing the base I to the cover. The invention contemplates means for carrying an electric shaver which may for some purposes be carried on the outside of the cabinet. In this particular embodiment, which is designed for display purposes, electric shavers l4 and I5 of different configurations and size seat in a parallel spaced relation within corresponding recesses integral with the top wall 8. The recesses are of a reverse configuration identical with that of the shaver to be placed therein and are of a depth sufficient to prevent slipping or removal of the shaver through inadvertent jarring of the cabinet, yet adequately displaying the same and permittingit to be easily grasped and lifted therefrom.

An additional substantially cylindrical recess I6 is provided at the rear of the cover 6 between the shavers l4 and I5. This I recess contains a sponge I! saturated with an antiseptic for sterilizing the heads l8 and I9 of the shavers. This is especially desirable where different persons use,the same shaver, as where they are exhibited for demonstration on a store counter. In

as an advertising display that is visible only when the. bulb 26 is lighted or at all times.

A circular mirror 29 having a metal rim 30 and tiltable on pivots 3| of a yoke 32 is mounted at v able for shaving with an electric shaver will have such a case, the operator merely removes a 010- v sure 2| of the recess l6 and rubs the shaving head into the sponge l1, replacing the closure thereafter.

In the front rounded portion of the top wall 8,

1 an opening is provided over which a glass window 22 having the same curvature is fitted to transmit light for shaving. The window 22 is secured in place at its upper and lower edges by clamps 23 which are fastened to correspond- 'ing bosses 24 integral with the cover 6 by screws 25. A conventional electric light bulb 26 is located directly beneath the window 22, being mounted in a socket 21 that is secured to a bracket'28 extending upwardly from the base I to which it is fastened. Translucent glass is preferably'used, either of a ground type or otherwise, in order to most effectively difiuse the light coming through the windows for better shaving illumination. This diffused light is directed upwardly to strike'the users face from beneath to illuminate the desired portion of the face. Lighting conditions often provided for shaving render it difficult, in that portions of the shaving area of the face are improperly lighted so that 1 there are shadows or darkened areas, but ithas been found that these are practically eliminated where the user's face is illuminated from beneath. This window 22 may be etched or painted whereby his chinis disposed above it, the light I rays will not strike his eyes directly to interfere with his vision.

Heat generated by the bulb 26 is dissipated through ducts provided by parallel slots formed by ribs 36 integral with the top wall 8. These ribs 36 located between the shavers l4 and I5 also serve an ornamental purpose.

In this instance the shavers i4 and I5 are adapted to remain within their recesses with their cords attached. Each shaver has its individual reel 31 and 38 for its cord, each consisting of a pair of fiber disks in a parallel spaced relationship mounted on hubs 39 and 4| of an insulationmaterial, in abutment with shoulders 39a and 39b of the hubs, respectively. The reels wardly extending flanges 50 are mounted on each end of the hub 39, being held together in an immovablerelationship with one another by a bolt 49 having a' hollow center and its nut 5|. Rubber washers 52 and 52a insulate the bolt-49 and nut 5| from the contact drums 41 and 43. The bolt 49 is rotatably mounted on the floating shaft 42, which provides a turning axis for the assembly of the reel 31. A cord 53 of the shaver l5 consists of leads 54 and 55 which enter through holes in the reel disk 3'! having their uninsulated end portions pressed between metallic washer 45 and contact drum 4'! and between metallic washer 46 and contact drum 48, respectively, making electrical contact therewith. It is clear from this construction that the bolt 49 is insulated from the contact drums 41 and 48 and from the washers 45 and 46, so that there will be no electrical conductor making electrical contact between drum 4! and washer 45 and the opposite drum 48 and washer 46.

The mounting of the reel 38 is identical with that of the reel 31, a cord 53a being wound thereon as shown in Fig. 5. Reel 38 including its cups 56 and 51 and washers 58 and 59 arerotatably mounted on an adjacent portion of the floating shaft42, the spacing between the two reels being maintained by the fiber washer 6|. The shaft 42 is joumaled within the spacers 42a and 42b which maintain the spacing of the reels 3! and 38 from the bracket arms 43. These spacers 42a and 42b are held in a non-rotatable relation with the bracket arms 43 by projecting end portions 62 which enter into corresponding slots in the brackat arms, the spacers being held therein by cotter keys 63. the spacers 42a and 42b, respectively, one end portion of each spring being kinked in a hole in the spacer at its outer end, the other end being entered in a hole in the bolt 48. The springs 64 and 65 provide a means for retracting the cords 53 and 53a wound upon the reels 31 and 38, for as the cord is unwound from the reel, the springs are loaded so that upon release of the cord the reel will be urged in an opposite direction to rewind the cord thereon.

Ratchet means for controlling the retraction of the cords 53 and 53a is provided by wire pawls 66 and 61 which are urged by leaf-springs 68 into notches 68 spaced about the periphery of the reels 31 and 38. The pawls 66 and 61 have outwardly extending right-angled end portions at each end, one such end portion being adapted to engage the notches 68 on the reels 31 and 38, the other ends being mounted for hinged movement in a vertical plane on the base 1 in bearings 66a and 61a, respectively. The leaf-spring 66 for each pawl 66 and 61 is mounted by rivets 1| to the base 1 so as to constantly exert an upward force against the pawls by which the spring is urged into the notches 68. A release means for disengaging the pawls 66 and 61 from the reels 31 and 38 is provided through the plunger 12 having an upper end portion that projects above the top wall 8 on which a cap 1 is mounted. The plunger 12 is slidably moun d in a boss 18 integral with the cover 8 so that when it is pressed downwardly its lower end portion on which a washer 15 is secured will force the pawls 66 and 61 downwardly to disengage them from the reels 31 and 38. If the plunger 12 is pressed downwardly by the operator when one or both of the cords 53 and 53a have been wholly or partly unwound from the reels 31 and 38, the reels will be released from the pawls, permitting them to turn in response to the urging of coil springs 63 and 65 to rewind the shaver cords 53 and 53a. Wire loops 18 and pulleys 16 and 16a mounted on blocks 11 and 11a guide the respective cords 53 and 53a from the reels 31 and 38 upwardly through openings 18 and 18 in the top wall 8, thereby contributing to the ease with which the cords are wound and unwound from the reels.

The wiring diagram of my invention is shown in Fig. 3; Bars 8i, 82, and 83 of a conducting metal, such as a copper alloy, are secured at one end to a bracket 84 having a center crosspiece spaced upwardly from the base 1, its vertical end portions terminating in the base 1 and being secured thereto. Rivets 85 and insulating washers 86 secure each of the bars BI, 82, and 83 to the cross-piece of the bracket 84. As is clear from Fig. 2, the blades 8! and 83 make electrical contact with the contact drums 41 and 51, respectively, being tensioned to contact the drums at a tangential relationship in any axial position.

Coil springs 64 and 66 are mounted on leads 81 and 88. A switch 82 located on the top wall 8 of the cover 6 controls the power circuit to the shaver l5, the shaver l4 having its own switch control. The bulb 26 is lit continuously to make the display more attractive.

In operat on, the user selects one of the shavers, lifting it from out of its recess and pulling its cord out to the desired length. This causes the cordto unwind from the reel and simultaneously to load the respective pull-back spring, such as spring 64. Retraction of the cord is prevented by the pawl and ratchet mechanism provided by the notches 68 on the reels and one of the pawls 66 and 81, its free end being urged into a notch 68 by leaf-spring 68. The user is now free to sterilize the shaving head by rubbing it in the antiseptic saturated sponge l1 and begin shaving. If shaver I5 is selected, switch 82 must be closed to complete the electrical circuit thereto. The mirror 28 is tilted so that he may shave under the most favorable light eonditions furnished by the rays of the bulb 26 which are diffused as they pass through the window 22. Having completed his shave,, the user presses the knob 13 on the plunger 12, causing one of the pawls 66 or 61 to disengage from the notch 68 permitting the'reel to turn in response to the urging of the loaded coil spring and rewind the cord thereon. The user then replaces the shaver in its recess.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying our invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim:

l. The combination of an electric shaver having a flexible electric cord, a cabinet having a recess therein of the configuration of the electric shaver and being of a, depth to prevent the shaver from sliding therefrom yet permitting it w to be easily lifted from the cabinet for use, reel Blade 82 having-forks 82a and 82b engages the inner drums 48 and 56 of the reels 31 and 38. As has been mentioned, the two leads of each cord 53 and 53a terminate in the drums on opposite sides of each of the reels 31 and 38, making electrical contact therewith. The circuit to shaver I4 is completed by the power lead 81 through the blade 83, the leads of the cord 53a, the fork 82a of blade 82, and power lead 88; while the circuit to shaver I5 is through power lead 88, fork 82b of blade 82, leads 54 and 55 in the cord 53', blade 8|, and power lead 81. Leads 88 and 8| of the light bulb 26 are tapped in parallel into the power means within the cabinet upon which the cord of the shaver is wound and designed to permit the unreeling of the cord upon its being pulled by the user, spring means for normally urging the reel means in a direction to wind the cord there-- on, controllable means for preventing the rewinding of the cord from any of a-plurality of unreeled positions, and manual release means for releasing the last-mentioned means through which the cord may be rewound upon the reel by power supplied by the said spring means.

2. In a device for use with an electric shaver having a flexible power-supply cord, of a cabinet having an open top recess for holding an electric shaver, reel means within the said cabinet on which the cord of the shaver is wound, the said reel means being rotatably mounted on an axis, means for urging the said reel in. a direction to wind the cord thereon, stop means for preventing the retraction of the said cord when it has been unwound from the said reel in taking the electric shaver from the cabinet with its cord attached, manually operative means for releasing the said reel means from the stop means to permit the automatic rewinding of the cord on the said reel means, an electric current supply circuit with which said shaver cord is connected, and electrical illuminating means connected with said circuit, said illuminating means located in the forward portion of the said cabinet through which face of the user 'of the electric shaver.

3. The combination with an electric shaver having a flexible cord containing leads through which power is supplied to the shaver, of a cabinet for holding the same, a reel means within the said cabinet on which the cord of the shaver is wound, means for urging the said re el in a direction to wind the cord thereon, stop means for preventing the retraction of the said cord when it has, been unwound from the said reel in taking the electric shaver from the cabinet with its cord attached, manually operative means for releasing the saidreel from the stop means to permit means.

4. In a shaving cabinet for an electric shaver having a flexible power-supply cord, a reel consisting of a pair of disks in a substantially parallel spaced relationship, a hub having shoulders which the inner center portions of the disks abut,

a pair of reel contact drums of a conducting metal mounted on the hub, their bottoms abutting the said disks, an electric cord. consisting of two insulated leads wound upon the said reel, the hub end portions of the cord containing no insulation and extending through holes in thedisks which comprise the reel, each terminating between each disk and drum on each side of the reel making electrical contact with the said drum,

a pair of spring tensioned contact bars, each contacting'one of the said drums in a tangential relationship making electrical contact therewith,-

power leads supplying current to the said contact bars, means for holding the drums and reel in an immovable relationship with the said hub, axis means making a rotatable mounting for the said hub, spring means for urging the reel in a, direction to rewind the cord thereon, stop means for holding the said reel at any of a plurality of positions in which the cord is unwound, and

- manually, operative means for releasing the last.-

mentioned means to permit the winding of a cord upon the said reel.

EDWARD K. PLONER. JOHN J. SIGMAN. 

